Material Type

Recording

Date Range

1980

Fonds

Pioneer Researchers Association Oral History Project

Creator

Pioneer Researchers Association

Physical Description

2 cassette tapes; digital copy

Physical Condition

Excellent

Acquisition Source

Pioneer Researchers

Scope and Content

Tape 1 Side A (30 min) - Biographical information. He was born in Lethbridge Sept 1910. His father, William E Reed, immigrated from Kent, England in 1908. He was a florist/gardener by trade. Discussion about the greenhouse his father worked at in England. His father lived in Calgary before moving to Lethbridge in 1910 to run a greenhouse for J E Terrill. lnformatioi\the Terrill Greenhouses in Calgary. His mother arrived in 1909 and r^^rned. KI«-firmer in Calgary Al>30^ - WE Reed managed the Terrill Greenhouse in Lethbridge from 1910-1926. Infocamtion about the company. In 1926 Terrill sold out to a group of Lethbridge businessmen. It was mismanaged and eventually sold to Frache Bros. - History of greenhouses and florists in Lethbridge. Information about greenhouse operations -packing and shipping of flowers, etc. - Bob left school at age 15 and went to work in a bank. After one year he quit and went to work for the greenhouse at $2.75/day. Employment was unsteady during the depression and during lay off times he worked as the night agent at the airport. He was employed there during the 1931 air mail flights. - From 1955-1976 Bob worked in an appliance shop. - Hobby is taking home movies. He started filming in 1939. SideB - Continue with home movies. He is classified as an amateur movie maker. Subjects vary and include parades, fair grounds, family holidays. - Discussion about air shows, the various types of early airplanes, the pilots who flew into Lethbridge (Kenyon, Milt Ashton, Bill Holland, Harold Jarvis, Harold Farrington). Lethbridge was the major stopping point in the air mail run in the 1930's. Mentions airport employees and opertations. - Ralph McKenzie and Ivan Thompson (pilot) were killed in a crash 1 Feb 1931. Talks about the causes of the crash. - Story about a mishap Charlie Elliott and he had while they were test flying George Ross's plane. Information about George Ross. Tape 2 Side A - Continue with George Ross. His first plane was a Gypsy Moth, then he purchased a Puss Moth. Information about the airplane. - Thorton Tweed holds the record for being the youngest pilot in Canada. He soloed at the age of 11. His father was a mechanic at the Lethbridge Airport. Information about the Tweeds. - Southern Alberta Airlines: a charter service and flight training company formed in the late 1920's by Charlie Elliott, Jock Palmer, Linn Fairburn. Kearn and Patton were instructors. The company had 2 planes: one was destroyed in the Thompson crash and the other caught fire. The company folded. - Discussion about aircraft radios and beam stations. Lethbridge Airport and a teletype machine. - General information about the pilots that flew into, and lived in Lethbridge. Tape 2 Side B - Blank

Access Restrictions

Public Access

Accession No.

19921008039

Collection

Archive

Less detail